Mainrimo, a Gurung-language feature film, is slated for its theatrical release in November.

Mainrimo (which translates to ‘Miss You’ in English) focuses on the rampant migration that several villages in Nepal’s western districts have seen in the last decade. The film premiered in Chitwan in August this year.

This will be the first time in over two years that an indigenous-language film is having a regular theatrical release. By and large, indigenous-language films are limited only to charity shows, owing to the lack of audience. “It’s a challenge to take an indigenous-language film to the theatres,” said Bhojbahadur Gurung, director of Mainrinmo, adding, “Over two decades have passed since the first Gurung-language films was made, but more often than not, they are limited to charity shows and VIP shows.”

Gurung has also directed Nepali films such as Hamjayega, Bhale Fight and Saahasi.

Mainrimo, according to its executive producer, Bal Kashi Gurung, is set in Shailung Village in Kaski and tells the story of how the trend to migrate either to the Gulf or to city areas is affecting the lifestyle of people there, putting the Gurung culture and traditions in jeopardy.

“The film is our attempt to examine the educational and socio-political condition of rural Nepali villages,” director Gurung added, “With migration overseas on the rise, the villages have seen a massive dip in the number of residents, which is alarming.”